First amendment freedoms
Freedom of assembly, press, religion, speech
civil liberties
freedoms to think and act without government interference or fear of unfair legal treatment
civil rights
right or rights belonging to a person by reason of citizenship including especially the fundamental freedoms and privileges guaranteed by the 13th and 14th amendments and subsequent acts of Congress including the right to legal and social and economic equ
establishment clause
Clause in the First Amendment that says the government may not establish an official religion.
Free exercise clause
the First Amendment guarantee that citizens may freely engage in the religious activities of their choice
pure speech
is the peaceful expression of thoughts, ideas, or opinions before a willing audience. This is the neighborly chat or the local candidate's campaign speech. It is your expression of ideas about a political issue or official. This type of speech is generall
speech plus
speech accompanied by activities such as sit-ins, picketing, and demonstrations. Protection of this form of speech under the first amendment is conditional, and restrictions imposed by state or local authorities are acceptable if porperly balanced by cons
symbolic speech
nonverbal communication, such as burning a flag or wearing an armband. The Supreme Court has accorded some symbolic speech protection under the first amendment.
slander
an abusive attack on a person's character or good name
sedition
rebellion or resistance against the government
due process
principle in the Fifth Amendment stating that the government must follow proper constitutional procedures in trials and in other actions it takes against individuals
probable cause
(law) evidence sufficient to warrant an arrest or search and seizure
search warrant
A court order allowing law enforcement officers to search a suspect's home or business and take specific items as evidence
double jeopardy
being tried twice for the same crime
venue
The location where something takes place, esp. a trial
eminent domain
the right of government to take private property for public use
reasonable suspicion
evidence that justifies an officer in stopping and questioning an individual believed to be involved in criminal activity
exclusionary rule
a rule that provides that otherwise admissible evidence cannot be used in a criminal trial if it was the result of illegal police conduct
bail
the legal system that allows an accused person to be temporarily released from custody (usually on condition that a sum of money guarantees their appearance at trial)
comparable worth
the issue raised when women who hold traditionally female jobs are paid less than men for working at jobs requiring comparable skill
jim crow laws
Limited rights of blacks. Literacy tests, grandfather clauses and poll taxes limited black voting rights
de jure segregation
segregation that is imposed by law
de facto segregation
Segregation resulting from economic or social conditions or personal choice.
grandfather clause
A clause in registration laws allowing people who do not meet registration requirements to vote if they or their ancestors had voted before 1867.
affirmative action
a policy designed to redress past discrimination against women and minority groups through measures to improve their economic and educational opportunities
reverse discrimination
Discrimination against whites or males in hiring or promoting
seperate but equal doctrine
the standard under which the court once upheld racial segragation; Plessy v Fergunson
indictment
an accusation of wrongdoing
arraignment
a hearing in which a suspect is charged and pleads guilty or not guilty
literacy test
A test given to persons to prove they can read and write before being allowed to register to vote
poll tax
a tax of a fixed amount per person and payable as a requirement for the right to vote
compensatory action
helping disadvantaged people catch up, usually by giving them extra education, training, or services
strict scrutiny
a Supreme Court test to see if a law denies equal protection because it does not serve a compelling state interest and is not narrowly tailored to achieve that goal.
clear and present danger
a standard for judging when freedom of speech can be abridged
presumption of innocence
a person is innocent of a crime, even when arrested for that crime, until they are proven guilty in a court of law